As an entertainer, he's a man of many alter egos. The
versatile impersonator can also sound uncannily like
Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Garth Brooks, John Lennon
and Mick Jagger and many others. In Europe he's a name
artist in his own right in the rockabilly revival
scene. He an entertainer and a singer, and entertaining
a room is what he does best. Over many years of
experience, Vallis has learnt it's important to cater
the show to the audience and give them what they want
putting the crowd at ease with a comedy line, some
audience participation, and an overall atmosphere of
fun. He always likes to have a little fun with the
people, but only picking on people can take it. Kind of
like his heroes of the Rat Pack and Rickles days.

It's a career that Vallis eased into, after many
dues-paying years with Legends of Rock and Roll. He
started in that show in 1989, when 16, playing the part
of Buddy Holly. (feels he’s getting to "old" for the
part as he is nearing 30 - Holly was only 22 when he
died). Vallis started doing other artists in 1998, even
when on tour with Legends during the soundcheck, he
would do Jagger for fun. There was some ambition
involved in his branching out as well as the structure
of the Legends show, as Holly he always be the opening
act no matter how long he was with the show or how good
the act became. Not only did Johnny turn into the main
attraction but now other people open for him.

Holly was not Vallis' first venture into
impersonations, he started out as one of the youngest
Elvis Presley impersonators in the business. Born in
Toronto, Ontario (he says that he had nothing to do
with that) his first professional performance was when
he 11, at an Elvis night at a Mexican restaurant there.
He was still impersonating Elvis after he moved to
B.C., including a stint at Expo 86 which is where he
got told to start doing Buddy Holly by Randy Friskie.
Ironically, today he is one of the few impersonators
who doesn't do Elvis, not as Elvis, anyway. He
impersonates an poke fun at the Elvis impersonators,
he'd rather leave Elvis alone, he feels that there are
many Elvis impersonators out there, and they're alive
to fight back. One of his first successful post-Holly
impersonation was John Lennon - both the singing and
speaking voice. But many others followed including a
Willie Nelson-Julio Iglesias duet. Another favourite is
Tom Jones. The more the audience is involved the better
the show becomes. Johnny takes pride in that his comedy
style is playful, tongue-in-cheek tone that reveals his
personality and artistry, he is clean and never
offends.

Vallis has played international. Regardless of the
city or event Johnny enjoys an audience ready to have
fun. He is not just singing, but telling stories,
creating characters and becoming them ...

Look What People Say ...

CLICK ON A STORY TO OPEN

Johnny Vallis was very flexible and adjusts with short
notice, as the agenda timing was out of our control. I
am pleased to advise that he was professional,
conscientious and put on a great show for our event
attendees. He was pleasant to deal with and I would not
hesitate to engage him again to entertain at one of our
events when the opportunity arises.- Kids Help Phone - Kathleen Jagger - Regional Director

Johnny connected well with our group.
He impersonated a variety of well-known entertainers
and had our group "in stitches".- Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute - Eric Beddis

I have personally seen Johnny perform on at least five
occasions and in all different venues. He has displayed
over and over again a high level of entertainment
value. He has proven to be a capable entertainer and a
true gentleman. I highly recommend Johnny Vallis to any
group. His impersonations, singing and music is
everything you would imagine, you will not be
disappointed.- The Commissionaires - Vicki Pettigrew - Executive
Assistant
Some of our guests had seen Johnny perform before and
were looking forward to the show; those you hadn’t were
surprised by his versatility and professionalism. Many
guests came to us afterwards to say how much they had
enjoyed the performance. I will invite Johnny Vallis to
entertain at other functions given by our Company.- Bulter Brothers Supplies Ltd. - Anne Van Kirk -
Executive Assistant to President

I have the good fortune of knowing Johnny Vallis since
he first performed for us as a teenager in 1989 for
Children with Disabilities. Since then he has grown
into a very versatile entertainer who is able to adapt
his performances to any venue whether it be a church
hall, department store or nightclub. Johnny can do it
all. A professional who takes much pride in his
performance and is extremely polite and easy to work
with. I highly recommend him to anyone wishing to
experience world class entertainment.- The Bay (Victoria) - Hilary Jordan - Coordinator

Rock and RollPretender

By Mitch Wright
Goldstream News Gazette

WEST SHORE - He grew up dreaming of being Elvis, but
Johnny Vallis made a name for himself in showbiz by
impersonating another rock legend - Buddy Holly.
Vallis, spent nine years paying homage to Holly, as
part of the three-person (Holly, Elvis and Roy Orbison)
Legends of Rock and Roll show.

"It was 'the show they never gave,'" said Vallis, who
gave up performing as Holly in 1998.
Vallis, a View Royal resident since 1992, admits that
fate played at least a bit part in his career path,
although even as a preschooler, he knew he wanted to be
a professional entertainer and musician.
"In my Grade 1 annual, it said, 'I want to be Elvis
when I grow up,'" Vallis told the News Gazette. "Not I
wanted to be 'like' Elvis. I actually wanted to be
Elvis. There was never any hesitation that I didn't
have the chops."

Despite his early interest in music and goal of
becoming a performer, Vallis says he isn't entirely
sure what sparked that interest.
Neither of his parents were especially musical, he
said, adding that "there was not a lot of stuff at
home, other than Sinatra and Johnny Mathis, which were
my early influences."

Vallis said he wasn't especially good at sports, and
simply gravitated to music from early on.
"I just wanted a guitar and wanted to play," he said.
"I liked the attention. Anybody who gets into this
business, it's because they like the attention."
At age 11, in his native Toronto, he earned his first
paid gig, a three-song set at a Mexican restaurant. Two
years later, as a gangly 13-year-old, he won his first
long performance run - a six-month gig impersonating
Elvis at Expo 86, in Vancouver.

It was there he met another Elvis impersonator - Randy
Friskie - who told Vallis he was more suited to Buddy
Holly than 'the King,' because of his tall, slender
stature. Indeed, Vallis does bear a striking
resemblance to Holly, even before he puts on glasses
similar to Holly's trademark horn-rimmed specs.
Vallis played out his six-month run on False Creek,
then moved to Victoria in 1987. He worked on his Holly
impersonation, and earned a job playing at a downtown
restaurant.

It was there that he was "discovered" in January, 1989,
and signed to play Buddy Holly with the Legends of Rock
and Roll. Ironically, the show's Elvis was none other
than Friskie, who had advised Vallis to think about
impersonating Holly two years earlier.
Just 17 when he joined the show, Vallis spent the next
nine years touring throughout North America and all
over the world.

He cites a 1996 tour of Australia, which involved 66
shows in just over two months, as well as an impromptu
performance for the king and queen of Malaysia, as his
favourite.

Although he never doubted he'd make it in showbiz,
Vallis admits his sudden success was a bit of a
whirlwind.
"Going from Louie, Louie's in January to the Royal
Theatre in April was a bit of a G-force test," he said,
adding that while he was still a teenager, his co-stars
were both stage veterans.
"The other guys had been doing this for 15 years," he
said.

"I didn't even audition for the show. They just signed
me and put me on stage."

After nearly a decade, Vallis left the Legends show in
1998 to focus on a solo career.
"My joke was that I stopped doing Holly because I
turned 23," said Vallis (Holly was just 22 when he was
killed in a plane crash.)

On a serious note, Vallis said it was simply time for a
change, time to try something new. As well, he had
begun feeling he was ready to be a headliner, whereas
with the Legends, Holly was always the opener for
Orbison and Elvis.

"If you want to stay in a career, you've got to be
willing to try something new," Vallis said.
His own Man of Many Voices musical comedy show,
however, wasn't entirely new.

The show involves impressions of Mick Jagger, Louis
Armstrong, Dean Martin, Garth Brooks, John Lennon, the
Bee Gees and Gordon Lightfoot, among others - voices
that were perfected during sound checks for Legends
shows.

One impersonation he does not do as part of his show is
Buddy Holly.
"You can't just put the glasses on," he said, "not
after what I did for nine years."
Neither does he do Elvis, despite his early success
impersonating the King. He's one of the few
professional impersonators who doesn't do Elvis - he
does, however, do impersonations of Elvis impersonators.
Vallis's performances also involve a healthy dose of
G-rated comedy, but Vallis says his main focus remains
on the music.

"It's musically based, because my life has been music,"
he said, going on to describe his act as 'Vegasy type'
impersonations.

"I'm a singer first and a comedian second - unless you
don't like my singing, then I'm a comedian first and a
singer second," Vallis quipped.

While he plays everything from summer festivals to
office parties and conventions, Vallis has also played
some big venues. Last winter, he played a warm up show
prior to the Grey Cup in Regina (where he met Prime Minster Paul Martin),
performed at a benefit concert in Kamloops, after the
forest fires ravaged the community. While organizers
were hoping for 800 people in the audience, they were
overwhelmed with 4,000.

More recently, he was in Hollywood in February for
another benefit concert, performing with actor/singer
Tommy Sands, Donnie Brooks and Glen Glenn among others.
Getting to meet and occasionally perform with big name
celebrities has been a perk of his career choice, says
Vallis. He's had opportunities to meet an array of
entertainers, from Mel Torme to Ronnie Hawkins, Frankie
Laine to Randy Bachman.

It's not just the celebrities he meets, however, that
impress Vallis.
"That's the fun part, the people you meet," he said.
"Whether they're stars or ordinary people."

Johnny performed a 5 day event in Regina, SK where he performed 11 shows.
Here is a photo of Johnny with Lou Gramm
(Lead Singer of 'Foreigner').
"Lou was great to meet, he is a real down-to-earth guy.
He still has a powerhouse voice." Vallis said.

Frankie Laine March 30, 1913 - February 6, 2007
Frankie Laine has been a special part of my life. A great source of inspiration to me,
someone I'll always look up to. As an entertainer he was like no one else from that era.
He drew an audience in, made you feel like he was performing just to you. Personally he
took time for people, never 'too big' and was always supportive. Gave of his time and
energy to Charity.

Frankie Laine: March 1993 -- August 1993

Frank gave me great advice when I was a kid. Those words of wisdom are with me every
time I walk on stage. My thoughts are with his family & friends.
It is important to remember Frankie Laine's music. Thank you to the fans that
bought Frank's music through the years. More information:
www.frankielaine.com

Layne Vallis was born July 4th @ 12:59 pm after an uncomplicated and
fairly fast labour and delivery. A very healthy and handsome boy weighed in
@ 7lbs and 13 oz. Mom and Dad are thrilled!
Now that's something to sing about!

Be sure to join the mailing list for 2008 dates!

Meeting people is a great highlight. Admiring another artists talent and
having a chance to meet them is a big thrill. Here are some of those moments:

Billy Connolly is one of the funniest comedians I have
ever seen. We are completely different in comedy style,
look and he has more money. A real friendly guy. Be
sure to visit his site: www.billyconnolly.com

Johnny and Charlie Gracie backstage at the Hemsby Rock and Roll show in England.
Charlie is a true legend. He and his wife Joan were so kind to us on our trip. A dream come true.
Be sure to visit his site: www.charliegracie.com

It was a thrill to meet Mel Tormé. Regardless of what
style you perform as a singer you can learn from him.
We had written letters back and forth prior and when he
performed in town he invited me backstage to visit.